Malaysia has emerged as the third richest country in Southeast Asia and placed 71st globally in terms of GDP per capita, according to the latest 2025 data released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). With a per capita income of US$14,423 (approximately RM61,903), the nation stands just US$27 (RM115) short of the global average of US$14,450.

Within the ASEAN region, only Singapore and Brunei surpassed Malaysia. Singapore leads the pack with an impressive GDP per capita of US$93,956 (RM403,256), securing the 4th spot globally outranking many of the worlds most developed economies. Brunei follows at 35th worldwide, with a per capita GDP of US$37,023 (RM158,902).

In contrast, other regional neighbors like Thailand and Indonesia reported significantly lower GDP per capita figures, standing at US$7,754 (RM33,280) and US$5,248 (RM22,524) respectively. Several other Southeast Asian countries remain below the US$5,000 mark.

Malaysia's economic position is further highlighted by the fact that its per capita GDP surpasses both the Asia-Pacific average (US$9,179 / RM39,396) and the Southeast Asian regional average (US$6,141 / RM26,357), underscoring its relative financial strength in the region.

Globally, the top three richest countries based on GDP per capita in 2025 are:

Luxembourg US$141,080 (RM605,515)

Switzerland US$111,716 (RM479,485)

Ireland US$107,243 (RM460,286)

Singapore's strong economic performance places it among the worlds top 10, while established powers like the UK, France, and Italy fall outside the top 20. Meanwhile, China ranks 73rd with US$13,873 per capita, trailing just behind Malaysia, and India ranks far lower at 141st, with a GDP per capita of US$2,937lagging behind most Southeast Asian nations.

The IMF data highlights Malaysia's continuing progress on the economic front, cementing its status as one of the more affluent nations in the region and nearing parity with the global average.